Dentures

Most dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated two different ways. A traditional denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the gums have healed. A denture is fabricated and inserted right after the teeth are removed and the gums are allowed to heal underneath the denture. An upper denture has acrylic normally flesh colored that covers the palate. The lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe leaving room for your tongue. The teeth are made of either plastic or porcelain, or a combination of both. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over previously treated teeth and a complete denture can be attached to implants to allow for a more tight fit. Dentures over time will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment correct. The alignment will change as the bone and gum ridges shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Frequent dentist examinations are still important for those who wear dentures so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.

HARD vs. SOFT Relines:

A hard reline is your common type of reline where you have material filled into your current denture that is exactly the same material your denture was made from. It basically adds more denture material to areas that are needed to ensure an updated denture base, also a solid foundation that will not shift with normal use. This procedure at Family Dental Spa of Brandon normally is done within 1 day with an appointment in the morning. Many reasons go into deciding on whether a hard reline is necessary or if a soft reline would be a better fit.

Soft relines are most often used in cases where a patient may have a reason that involves a semi-permanent liner embedded into the hard base of a denture, allowing for less trauma to the underlying bone as well as maximizing your comfort. We use soft-silicone based materials to ensure that no bacterial growth occurs and so the patient can enjoy more flexibility if they have a sensitive area the denture base needs to cover.

Once the denture has been relined a few times during its life, the teeth will be worn out to a point where the dentures integral properties become overwhelmed and replacement is the only option. Depending on what type of teeth are used and how well they were taken care of over time will determine how often a denture may need to be replaced.